George Janchenko, 79, a former mayor of Summit and co-owner of a scrap metal company, died Sunday, Sept. 23, at a Southwest Side nursing home.A native of Summit, Mr. Janchenko served as mayor of the southwest suburb from 1967 to 1977.
Colleagues in the village’s government remembered him as a dedicated public servant who worked hard to raise village revenues and guide the town through times of racial strife.
“He was respected by everyone on both sides of the issue,” said former Summit Trustee Cyril “Barry” Lambert.
Jack Kirk, Summit’s clerk for 36 years, remembered accompanying Mr. Janchenko to African-American churches in the late 1960s.
During a time of riots, “he was able to keep everything real quiet,” Kirk said. “He worked well with everybody.”
Mr. Janchenko was a star basketball player at Argo High School and went on to play one year of basketball at the University of Illinois.
After college, he joined the Navy and was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base.
Raised on a farm not far from Harlem Avenue, Mr. Janchenko and his brother Mitch used land their family leased to start a scrap metal business, Jan’s Inc., in their hometown.
The business grew into a successful operation.
Mr. Janchenko is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons, Jerry and Michael; and five grandchildren.
Services were held Thursday in Indian Head Park.
